JP6042804B2 - Overpressure safety valve - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates generally to containers that contain pressurized media, including self-cooling or self-heating food and beverage containers, aerosol containers, and the like. More particularly, the present invention is incorporated in such a container and automatically relieves the increased pressure in the container when the pressure reaches a predetermined level, while at the same time providing normal and desired operation of the container. Intended for valves that can function.

  The prior art for aerosol containers, self-cooling and self-heating foods and beverage containers is very diverse. In particular, the main problem with containers in the field of containing pressurized media used to dispense the contents of a container or to heat or cool the contents of a container is the control under certain circumstances. Otherwise, the container may rupture or explode, and the media pressure can reach a level that would harm the user. Various attempts have been made with such prior art containers to relieve pressure before significant container rupture or container explosion occurs. One overpressure relief mechanism used in aerosol cans includes having a neck in the portion of the can that expands and contracts to increase volume. This will also move the valve cup carrying the dispensing valve. If the overpressure situation in the container has increased significantly, it is possible to move the valve cup significantly until its surroundings are released from the edge of the container, thereby alleviating the overpressure situation. In such instances, the valve can bounce off the container and potentially hurt people.

  Another feature implemented in such containers is that when the pressure inside the container reaches a predetermined level, the material forming the container around the perforated area is released, and the contents of the pressurized medium are: A hole is made in the bottom of the container in order to weaken that part by means that release it from the container and thereby alleviate the overpressure situation.

  Another feature utilized in certain situations is that the concave bottom of the can allows it to expand outwards, thereby increasing the volume of the can.

  In particular, a further overpressure mechanism implemented in containers intended for self-cooling and self-heating food and beverage containers is illustrated in US Pat. No. 6,732,886, incorporated herein. This patent discloses an overpressure relief mechanism that includes a valve member having a valve stem that, upon actuation, releases a pressurized medium. The valve member is carried by a pedestal that is movable relative to the container when the pressure in the container reaches a predetermined level. When the pedestal is moved a predetermined amount against a certain good that has reached a predetermined level, the valve stem is joined to the barrier and the valve accomplishes mitigating the overpressure situation. This device has proven effective for the intended purpose.

  An overpressure mechanism such as that shown in US Pat. No. 6,732,886 is illustrated in FIG. As shown herein, the container 12 containing the beverage 14 has an upper portion 16 formed in a conventional manner and may include a lift tab (not shown) as is well known in the prior art. . The heat exchange unit 20 having the valve 18 fixed to the pedestal 22 is fixed to the upper part 24 of the HEU 20 by clamp fixing as is the state capital in the prior art. The valve 18 includes a valve stem 26. When the valve stem 26 is activated, a pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, may be directed through the valve hole 28 and into the interior of the HEU, and may be made of compressed activated carbon, etc., and may include binders and other materials. Absorbed by the carbon plug 38. A cap 30 is placed over the valve stem 26 to protect it from unintentional actuation. Inside the cap 30 is provided a barrier 32 disposed adjacent to the top of the valve stem 26. When the internal pressure of the HEU 20 exceeds a predetermined amount, the pedestal moves toward the bottom of the container 12, and when such happens, the valve stem 26 contacts the barrier 32, the stem is moved, Thereby, the pressure occurring inside the HEU is released.

  Even if a device such as that shown in FIG. 1 functions very well for its intended purpose, an overpressure mechanism housed inside the valve and constructed by such means will not operate the valve normally. At the same time, as in the prior art, there is a need to achieve an overpressure situation to release the overpressure inside the HEU without expanding or moving the pedestal of the HEU.

  The present invention includes a valve mechanism for use with a container that houses a pressurizing mechanism, the valve mechanism having a hollow valve housing having a hollow valve stem that is slidably disposed within the main body. It has an actuating rod at the end and protruding from the valve. The housing bottom closes the opposite end of the hollow valve housing. A pressure relief seal plug is disposed within the hollow valve stem. Means for continually urging the seal plug downward against the bottom of the valve stem to form a seal therebetween to provide a normally closed valve, the seal plug being the medium contained therein Under continuous pressure, it is exposed to the inside of the container. When the pressure in the container reaches a predetermined level, the seal plug moves up against the means to urge it downward, thereby breaking the seal installed between the seal plug and the bottom of the stem, The contained pressure can be reduced by the presence of the valve stem. The spring is disposed in the valve and is accommodated between the bottom of the housing and the seal. The valve seal and the spring urge the joint with the seal of the valve stem. The valve stem is pressurized. It is possible to inject media into the container and move between a closed position and an open position so that the pressurized medium is released from the container.

It is a figure which illustrates a prior art. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the valve design of the present invention in cross-section. FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view schematically showing various parts of the valve as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating normal operation of a valve as illustrated in FIG. It is a schematic sectional view showing the pressure relief operation of the valve. It is a figure which illustrates a valve body schematically in detail. FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the body bottom and pressure relief plug in more detail. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the valve | bulb attached to HEU hold | maintained at a drink container.

  Referring first to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve design of the present invention is illustrated schematically in an enlarged view as shown in FIG. 3, including its various components.

  The valve design of the present invention includes two separate actuated valves housed within a single valve housing or body. The first of the two valves operates to allow the medium to be injected into the container under pressure and then to release the medium to the atmosphere for the intended purpose. The medium may be any and all of the vapor phase of both liquid and gas propellants. As an example, carbon dioxide gas under pressure may be injected into a heat exchange unit having a plug of compressed activated carbon that absorbs carbon dioxide therein. The valve can then be actuated to release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere to cool the food or beverage surrounding the heat exchanger. The second of the two valves is continuously exposed to the medium under pressure, such as carbon dioxide. When the medium under pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, the valve is released from the enclosure by overpressure, and the overpressure can be released.

  As shown, the valve design of the present invention includes a valve cup 40 having a valve 42 disposed therein. The valve cup 40 can be a deep drawn cup as shown, or a standard valve cup from which the deep drawn is removed as shown in the prior art of FIG. It may be a valve cup that extends outside the flange 44. The valve 42 is attached to the pedestal 48 of the valve cup 40.

  The valve includes a hollow valve housing or body 50 whose lower end is closed by a body bottom 52 and whose upper end includes an inward flange 54 that defines a stop 56. A hollow valve stem 58 is disposed within the valve housing or body 50 and includes an actuating rod 60 that extends through the top of the valve body 50 and through an opening 62 in the pedestal 48. Actuating rod 60 defines an elongate opening 64 therethrough for delivery with hollow interior 66 of valve stem 58. The valve stem 58 includes an enlarged upper region 68 that defines a shoulder 70 that engages a stop 56 of the valve body 50. The lower portion of the valve stem 58 is closed by a stem bottom 72 that defines an opening 74, which provides communication to the opening 76 in the body to the interior of the vessel or heat exchange unit. A person skilled in the art will know that the pressure from the pressurized medium inside the vessel or heat exchange unit passes through the openings 76 and 74 and into the hollow enlarged portion 68 of the valve stem 58 and underside 78 of the pressure relief seal plug 80. You will understand that it takes continuously. A pressure relief spring 82 is installed around the pressure relief seal plug 80 and is adjacent to the upper portion 84 of the enlarged portion 68 of the valve stem 58. The pressure relief spring, as shown in FIG. 2, causes the pressure relief seal plug and pressure relief seal 86 to exclude pressure in the pressurized medium in the container or HEU to exit the container or HEU during normal operation of the valve. Bias down into the engagement.

  The upper portion 54 of the valve housing or body 50 engages a conventional valve seal 88 such as a common gasket. The valve seal 88 closes the plurality of openings 90 defined by the actuating rod 60.

  The normal operating spring 89 is held between the main body bottom 52 and the stem bottom 72 and urges the valve stem 58 upward as shown in FIG. As a result, the shoulder 70 on the valve stem engages a stop 56 on the valve body 50. In this position, the normal valve seal 88 closes a plurality of openings 90 formed in the actuation rod 60. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a valve as shown in FIG. 2 may be secured to the container or HEU by a flange 44 clamped to the top of the HEU as illustrated in FIGS. .

  During normal operation, it is desired to inject a pressurized medium in a container or HEU so that when absorbed by the compressed carbon particles contained therein, the valve stem 58 is as shown in FIG. Pressed. This downward movement displaces the shoulder 70 from the stop 58 and moves the plurality of openings 90 from the seal 88, opening 64 in the valve stem 58, play or the outer surface of the valve stem 58 and the valve housing 50. Providing delivery to and from the passage 92 between the inner surfaces of the two. A pressurized medium such as carbon dioxide is injected through the elongated opening 64. Allows passage through an opening in the actuating rod of the valve stem 58, such as 90, and through a play or passage 92 and down into the HEU and into the HEU. . The carbon dioxide gas under pressure is then absorbed by the carbon particles contained within the HEU as shown at 124 in FIG. When the desired amount of carbon dioxide has been absorbed, the valve stem 58 can return to the position as shown in FIG. 2, at which time the opening 90 is sealed by a normal valve seal 88 and thus , Prevents carbon dioxide gas under pressure from being exhausted from the HEU.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when it is desired to operate the HEU to cool the contents of the vessel surrounding the HEU, the pressurized medium absorbed by the carbon particles contained within the HEU will cause the surrounding HEU to be cooled. In the process of drawing heat from a substance such as a beverage, it is necessary to escape from the HEU. This operation is caused by sinking the valve stem 58 downward against the force of the spring 89, as shown in FIG. When this occurs, the plurality of openings 90 move downward away from the normal valve seal 88. When this occurs, the pressurized medium contained in the HEU passes through an opening 76 in the body bottom 52, as indicated by arrow 94, after which the outside of the valve stem and the inside of the valve body Through the passage 92 between them, flowing upward, through the plurality of openings 90 in the elongated opening 64, and through the elongated opening 64 in the valve stem 58 to the outside atmosphere. Will. When the valve is maintained in the subsidence state as shown in FIG. 4, the pressurized medium is discharged to the HEU, thereby allowing heat to be removed from the beverage and food surrounding the HEU. The structure of the valve may be such that when it sinks, it is fixed in a sinking position that allows the pressurized medium to escape as shown at 94 until it fully sinks. Alternatively, the structure can sink the valve stem and then be released back to the sealing position, and the discharge of the pressurized medium will stop and allow it to sink again to the valve stem if desired. Can be like that. This opening and closing operation will be used when the aerosol container injects the contents of the container, as is well known in the art. Note that the pressure relief seal brag 80 or pressure relief spring 82 does not sink and do nothing during normal operation of the valve as shown in FIG. In other words, the pressure relief valve system remains stationary corresponding to the valve stem 58 and is moved by this working tube, the valve stem 58. Only the spring 89 is compressed by the downward movement of the valve stem 58, so that the pressurized medium can be discharged to the HEU.

  Referring now to FIG. 5, the pressure relief operation of the valve is illustrated. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the lower surface 78 of the seal plug 80 is continuously exposed to the pressure of the pressurized medium. During pressure relief operation, pressure from the pressurized medium enters the valve body through an opening 76 in the body bottom 52. This pressurized medium also passes through an opening 74 in the stem bottom 72. When the pressure of the pressurizing medium exceeds a predetermined amount (determined by the contraction rate of the pressure relief spring 82), the pressure relief seal plug 80 is against the bias of the spring 82 or against the bias, as illustrated in FIG. Move upward. When that happens, the pressure relief plug is moved away from the pressure relief seal 86 so that the pressurized medium passes through the opening 74 and around the outer edge of the pressure relief plug and is in the valve stem 58 length. It passes through the scale-shaped opening 64 and is discharged to the atmosphere. The outermost edge of the pressure relief plug is dimensioned to provide play between the inner surface of the hollow valve stem to provide a flow path for the pressurized medium. When that happens, the overpressure in the HEU can be dissipated. When the pressure drops below a predetermined amount, the pressure relief spring 82 then returns the pressure relief plug 80 to join the seal 86, seals the HEU again, and the pressurized medium is discharged from the HEU to the atmosphere. To be prevented. The relief plug 80 will remain in the sealed position as long as the pressure rises again and does not exceed the predetermined pressure. The valve stem 58 remains stationary relative to the valve housing 50 during operation of the pressure relief valve.

  One skilled in the art will appreciate that the dual valve system of the present invention provides a separate flow path for the pressurized medium contained within the HEU. The first is an elongated opening 64, a plurality of openings 90, a passage 92, and an opening 76 that flow downward to absorb the pressurized medium and flow upward to absorb. The second passes through the opening 76, the opening 74 upwards, around the pressure relief seal plug, through the hollow housing 50, and through the elongated opening 64.

  Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternative design for the valve body 50 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper portion 96 of the valve body is splined as shown at 98 and 100. This spline improves the gas flow rate and assists the pressurized medium being injected into the container or HEU when the container is filled. The pressurized medium passes around the valve stem, over the seal 88, through the spline, and into the container or HEU.

  Referring now to FIG. 7, the body bottom 52 and the seal plug 80 are illustrated in more detail. As shown therein, the body bottom includes an outwardly extending flange 102 that defines a shoulder 104 that is joined to the bottom of the hollow valve body 50. An opening 76 through the bottom 52 is defined by an upwardly facing tubular member 106 that defines a groove 108 with the bottom 52. A normal operating spring 89 is sealed in the groove 108 and hooked between the main body bottom 52 and the stem bottom 72. The body bottom 52 defines a shoulder 104 that joins the bottom of the hollow valve body 50.

  The pressure relief seal plug 80 includes an outwardly facing flange 110 and defines a lower surface 112 for a portion to which a pressurized medium is always applied. As described above and as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, during normal operation of a container having a pressurized medium within the HEU, the pressure relief plug 80 maintains a seal relative to the pressure relief seal 86. The spring 82 will maintain a plug that is always sealed. The pressure relief seal plug moves only to allow overpressure dissipation only when the pressure of the pressurized medium contained in the HEU exceeds a predetermined level.

  Referring now to FIG. 8, a container 120 is illustrated in which a heat exchange unit (HEU) 122 is disposed. The HEU is held where the flange of the valve cup 40 is clamped around the HEU opening. The valve 42 is fixed to the valve cup 40 as described above. A plug 124 of compressed carbon particles is retained in the HEU 122 and absorbs and releases pressurized carbon dioxide as described above. The opening at the bottom of the container (shown in FIG. 8) is closed by a member (not shown) that includes a pull tab similar to that shown and described in FIG. 1, and the beverage is typically contained within the container 120. , Surrounding the HEU 122.

  This specification states that an overpressure safety valve housed in a container of pressurized media operates normally to place the media in the container and release it from the container for the desired application, while at the same time the pressure of the media is It is disclosed that when a predetermined level is exceeded, it will be automatically achieved to reduce overpressure without damage to the container.

Claims (7)

Have a over-pressure safety valve, a self-cooling beverage container which includes a heat exchange unit inside,
(A) a container for receiving a beverage having a bottom defining an opening through the bottom ;
(B) a heat exchange unit having compressed carbon that absorbs pressurized carbon dioxide gas;
(C) a valve cup fixed to the heat exchange unit and the opening in the bottom of the container to place the heat exchange unit in contact with the beverage ;
(D) a valve mechanism fixed to the valve cup and extending into the heat exchange unit , wherein the valve mechanism is
(1) A hollow bulb having a hollow cylindrical housing, the hollow bulb having an inner wall , an upper surface defining a plurality of splines, and a lower opening end,
(2) A main body bottom portion 52 that includes an outer flange that closes the lower opening end of the housing, defines an opening that passes through the main body bottom 52, and defines a shoulder , the lower portion of the housing A body bottom 52 that further defines a groove surrounding the opening through which the opening end joins the shoulder and the body bottom 52 passes through the body bottom 52 ;
(3) It has a hollow valve stem arranged in the hollow cylindrical housing, and communicates directly with the outer wall, a plurality of transverse openings in the operating rod , and the atmosphere through which the pressurized carbon dioxide gas flows. actuating rod defining an elongated opening, and a first valve having a valve stem bottom portion defining a hole through the valve stem bottom,
(4) a first spring disposed in the hollow valve stem;
(5) a pressure relief seal plug installed over the hole in the bottom of the valve stem ;
(6) Between the pressure relief seal plug and the surface of the valve stem that urges the pressure relief seal plug toward the hole in the valve stem bottom so as to close the hole in the valve stem bottom. said are installed first server ne,
(7) the hole in the bottom of the valve stem that is continuously exposed to the pressurized carbon dioxide in the heat exchange unit ;
(8) The first spring, which is disposed inside the groove in the bottom of the cylindrical housing and joins the valve stem bottom for biasing the first valve upward so as to close the first valve; A second spring in series;
Including a valve mechanism;
Including self-cooling beverage container. The first passage through which the pressurized carbon dioxide gas flows defines an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical housing and an outer wall of the hollow valve stem, and the first passage includes an opening at the bottom of the housing. The first passage is open by moving the valve stem relative to the bias of the second spring toward the open position, and the pressure relief seal plug is stationary relative to the valve stem. A self-cooling beverage container according to claim 1 maintained. The second passage for flowing the pressurized carbon dioxide gas is defined by the pressure relief seal plug that moves away from the hole in the valve stem for the pressure of the pressurized carbon dioxide gas exceeding a predetermined level. The self-cooling beverage container according to claim 2, wherein the valve stem is kept stationary with respect to the housing. 4. A self-cooling beverage container according to claim 3, wherein a clearance is defined between the pressure relief seal plug and an inner surface of the hollow valve stem to provide a second passage. When pressurized carbon dioxide gas is injected into the container, the pressurized carbon dioxide gas passes through the spline and flows into the interior of the vessel, self-cooling beverage container according to claim 4. The self-cooling beverage container according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings in the actuating rod interconnect the first passage having the elongated opening. Wherein when the valve stem is in its closed position, further comprising a seal at the periphery of the actuating rod UNA by closing the plurality of openings in said actuating rod, self-cooling beverage container according to claim 6.

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